A Different Form of Banana

Remember last summer when I posted a spate of photos of Smacky sleeping?

I realize I'm doing it again, this time with eating.

Here she is, eating a tiny slice of a tiny loaf of banana bread that I made especially for her, without walnuts.

Apparently it was acceptable but nothing to write home about.

A Sad Day

A couple of Fridays ago, Aurora and I were roused from bed by Gary and Arlo, who told us that Gary's older brother Randy had unexpectedly passed away earlier in the evening.

Please keep Gary and his family in your thoughts during this sad time. Randy will be greatly missed.

Frog on a Lilypad

When I'm not too tired and when Smacky is feeling athletic, we make the trek to our swimming class down the street.

On Valentine's Day many babies were absent, probably because their parents had overindulged in too many sugary cupcakes and had to stay home to recover. We, however, had no such problem, having eaten our cupcakes a week earlier, so we all got out of bed and made our way to the community center.

In addition to the rousing renditions of a bunch of songs I've honestly NEVER HEARD OF, this day the babies got to "play" instead of "learning."

This meant that Smacky got to float on a foam frog during class. It also meant no accidentally swallowed water, and no choking. I think the babies were all grateful for that.

Photographs courtesy of our fabulous in-home photographer Gary.

Shopping Somnolance

We had some nice sun last weekend, and some nice napping, too. Here is Aurora snoozing in her carseat after some tiring grocery shopping.

All that looking around and reaching for delightful things at Fred Meyer really wears a baby out.

Grub, Grub! I Want Grub!

My mom came over today and single-handedly cleaned my kitchen while Smacky and I snoozed the morning away. What an awesome task! Thank you, Mom!

After that, we all went to Kettleman's, a somewhat new bagel shop, and loaded up on carbs. To quell Smacky's car-crying (crying in the car, of course, which is much more agitating than house-crying or crying anywhere else where the sound doesn't reverberate and bore through your head like a dentist's drill), I broke off a piece of multigrain bagel and handed it back to her.

That baby sucked and chewed on that bagel for the next HOUR, turning and examining it like she was eating a chicken bone clean. We stopped at an estate sale and she sat on the couch, smiling at delighted shoppers and chewing on her treasure, not making a peep. A bagel could be more than just a delicious sandwich option, people. It could be the secret to keeping babies from crying in the car!

Pass it on.

Easy as Pie

Smacky's hat looks like a little duncecap when the bottom isn't turned up, doesn't it? But she's smart as a whip, people. I just can't think of any examples right now that don't involve hair-pulling. . . (Ask me later.)

Gary and Arlo and Smacky walked to Freddy's after dinner last night, giving me some precious alone time in which to nurse my recently aching belly and update my facebook status.

Smacky giggled at Arlo's antics the whole way there, but fell asleep on the way home. So all I had to do for bedtime last night was roll over and pop a bottle into her mouth.

I like it! Thanks, Gary!

Davenport Delight

Here is a fuzzy photo of Smacky hanging out at home. She's such a happy little baby!